House District 3 Democrats Quibble Over Endorsements

VOTE '92

September 30, 1992|By Peter Mitchell Of The Sentinel Staff

With Thursday's runoff just around the corner, the Democratic battle in U.S. House District 3 centered on endorsements Tuesday.

Democratic front-runner Corrine Brown campaigned with NAACP President Benjamin Hooks, once again using a national figure to highlight her status as the only black candidate in the new black majority district.

But as the Jacksonville legislator shared the spotlight with the civil rights leader, her runoff opponent, Jacksonville developer Andy Johnson, continued blasting her for what he sees as unethical behavior.

Joyce Rogers, Brown's campaign manager, said she erroneously listed a Holzendorf endorsement in a Jacksonville newspaper ad after hearing Holzendorf stand up and support Brown.

Amanda Scott, an aide to Holzendorf, said the state representative never endorsed Brown, ''but she does support her.''

Reddick has not taken a position in the race, but Rogers said Brown never claimed an endorsement from the Orlando lawmaker. Johnson did not provide proof she had.

Meanwhile, Johnson also complained the media have treated the 14-county district - stretching between Orlando, Jacksonville, Lake City, Gainesville and Ocala - as ''everybody's stepchild.''

Johnson has continually criticized the wishbone-shaped district drawn by a federal panel to gather together black voters. Brown, who pushed for as many minority-access seats as possible, has praised the new seat.